NameCensus.

UK surname

Saul

Derived from the Hebrew name Sha'ul, meaning "asked for" or "prayed for."

In the 1881 census there were 1,530 people recorded with the Saul surname, ranking it #2,743 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,667, ranked #3,743, down from #2,743 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Preston and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Dudley and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saul is 1,812 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.0%.

1881 census count

1,530

Ranked #2,743

Modern count

1,667

2016, ranked #3,743

Peak year

1999

1,812 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Saul had 1,530 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,743 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,667 in 2016, ranked #3,743.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,764 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Saul surname distribution map

The map shows where the Saul surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Saul surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saul over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,004 #2,781
1861 historical 779 #3,531
1881 historical 1,530 #2,743
1891 historical 1,417 #3,075
1901 historical 1,750 #2,968
1911 historical 1,764 #2,786
1997 modern 1,731 #3,442
1998 modern 1,797 #3,452
1999 modern 1,812 #3,453
2000 modern 1,769 #3,521
2001 modern 1,718 #3,541
2002 modern 1,747 #3,567
2003 modern 1,677 #3,625
2004 modern 1,634 #3,702
2005 modern 1,589 #3,747
2006 modern 1,599 #3,737
2007 modern 1,582 #3,803
2008 modern 1,600 #3,793
2009 modern 1,655 #3,773
2010 modern 1,694 #3,775
2011 modern 1,659 #3,801
2012 modern 1,652 #3,736
2013 modern 1,697 #3,714
2014 modern 1,685 #3,745
2015 modern 1,657 #3,774
2016 modern 1,667 #3,743

Geography

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Where Sauls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Preston, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire), Blackburn and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Dudley, Warwick, Barnet and Daventry. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
2 Dudley 033 Dudley
3 Warwick 008 Warwick
4 Barnet 031 Barnet
5 Daventry 002 Daventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saul

These lists show first names that appear often with the Saul surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Saul

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Saul, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Saul surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Saul household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Saul is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Saul is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Saul falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Saul is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Saul, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Saul

The surname Saul has its origins in ancient Hebrew, derived from the Biblical name Shaul, meaning "asked for" or "prayed for." This name traces its roots back to the Old Testament and the first king of Israel, Saul, who reigned around 1020 BCE.

The name Saul is believed to have spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions with significant Jewish populations. It is likely that the surname emerged as a way to distinguish individuals within these communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Saul can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as Saul, Sauel, and Savel, indicating its presence in medieval England.

In France, the surname Saul can be traced back to the 13th century, with records showing individuals bearing the name in regions like Normandy and Brittany. During this time, the name may have been influenced by the Old French word "saoul," meaning "satisfied" or "content."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Saul. One such figure is Rabbi Benjamin Saul (1615-1703), a prominent Jewish scholar and author from Poland, who wrote extensively on Talmudic law and Jewish ethics.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Hans Saul (1542-1602), a German composer and organist during the Renaissance period, known for his contributions to sacred music and organ repertoire.

In England, Sir Edward Saul (1590-1670) was a notable figure, serving as the Lord Mayor of London in 1635. He played a pivotal role in the City of London's response to the English Civil War.

The surname Saul has also been associated with notable literary figures, such as the American novelist John Ralston Saul (born 1947), who is known for his works exploring philosophy, economics, and political theory.

Additionally, Saul Bellow (1915-2005), a Canadian-American writer, is widely regarded as one of the most influential novelists of the 20th century, having won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1976 for his profound exploration of modern urban life.

While the surname Saul has its origins in ancient Hebrew and has been present throughout various regions of Europe since medieval times, it has spread globally and continues to be borne by individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Saul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Saul surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 331 Sauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.87x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 331 1.87x
Yorkshire 207 1.40x
Middlesex 138 0.92x
Norfolk 101 4.40x
Westmorland 100 30.49x
Cumberland 76 5.91x
Warwickshire 59 1.57x
Surrey 45 0.62x
Lincolnshire 43 1.80x
Kent 40 0.79x
Suffolk 39 2.15x
Durham 37 0.83x
Cheshire 29 0.88x
Northumberland 25 1.13x
Staffordshire 25 0.50x
Essex 23 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 23 1.14x
Hampshire 22 0.72x
Worcestershire 21 1.08x
Oxfordshire 16 1.74x
Cambridgeshire 14 1.48x
Herefordshire 14 2.29x
Buckinghamshire 13 1.44x
Derbyshire 12 0.51x
Glamorgan 12 0.46x
Ayrshire 8 0.72x
Midlothian 7 0.35x
Dumfriesshire 6 1.82x
Cornwall 5 0.30x
Devon 5 0.16x
Sussex 5 0.20x
Wigtownshire 5 2.52x
Gloucestershire 4 0.14x
Lanarkshire 4 0.08x
Stirlingshire 4 0.73x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 1.39x
Monmouthshire 3 0.28x
Somerset 3 0.12x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 107 Sauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.58x.

Place Total Index
Preston 107 22.58x
Leamington Priors 26 28.07x
Knottingley 20 76.95x
Oldbury 20 20.86x
Bentham 19 168.59x
Birmingham 18 1.43x
Heigham 17 13.80x
Kendal 17 28.31x
Aspatria 16 129.55x
Fishwick 15 136.99x
Great Yarmouth 15 7.89x
Blackburn 14 2.97x
Hentland 14 476.19x
Norton In Doncaster 14 465.12x
Undermilbeck 14 129.39x
Cuerdon 13 443.69x
Islington London 13 0.90x
Lowestoft 13 15.14x
Tipton 13 8.43x
Ulverston 13 25.20x
Willesden 13 9.24x
Barrow In Furness 12 4.98x
Habergham Eaves 12 7.41x
Horley 12 745.34x
Kirkland 12 171.67x
Paddington London 12 2.19x
Spalding 12 25.34x
Brightside Bierlow 11 3.79x
Crosscanonby 11 25.88x
Everton 11 1.95x
Hackney London 11 1.31x
Newton In Makerfield 11 20.28x
Toxteth Park 11 1.83x
West Ham 11 1.69x
Westminster St James 11 7.17x
Byers Green 10 79.81x
East Denton 10 198.02x
Levens 10 207.04x
Littleport 10 55.37x
Newington 10 1.81x
Witherslack 10 359.71x
Woodmancote 10 2500.00x
Lancaster 9 8.54x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 9 60.44x
Beetham 8 158.42x
Elswick 8 4.51x
Heath Charnock 8 169.85x
Ipswich St Margaret 8 12.97x
Leyton 8 15.76x
Manningham 8 4.39x
North Meols 8 4.61x
Norwich St Margaret 8 224.09x
Nottingham St Mary 8 1.54x
Ryton 8 51.28x
Wainfleet St Mary 8 221.61x
Westminster St 8 14.54x
Birkenhead 7 2.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 2.49x
Dalkeith 7 17.74x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 2.33x
Irvine 7 22.56x
Kensington London 7 0.84x
Kimberworth 7 8.53x
Preston Richard 7 232.56x
Roath 7 5.93x
Sedburgh 7 113.64x
Appleby St Michael 6 81.41x
Burnley 6 4.02x
Burton In Lonsdale 6 187.50x
Chesterfield 6 6.85x
Coventry St Michael 6 4.96x
Holbeck 6 6.12x
Liverpool 6 0.56x
Monks Coppenhall 6 4.83x
Newbottle 6 24.74x
Newington 6 14.73x
Poulton Barre 6 29.78x
Tottenham 6 2.52x
Woolwich 6 3.19x
Workington 6 8.16x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Saul surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 126
Elizabeth 65
Sarah 45
Alice 35
Ann 35
Jane 34
Annie 26
Agnes 21
Emma 18
Hannah 18
Ellen 16
Isabella 14
Emily 12
Margaret 12
Catherine 11
Martha 11
Eliza 9
Florence 9
Lucy 9
Harriet 8
Sophia 8
Maria 7
Rebecca 7
Susan 7
Ada 6
Edith 6
Frances 6
Amelia 5
Caroline 5
Esther 5
Bertha 4
Clara 4
Ethel 4
Fanny 4
Lydia 4
Margret 4
Anna 3
Anne 3
Bessie 3
Bridget 3
Charlotte 3
Dorothy 3
Elizth. 3
Eva 3
Henrietta 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Minnie 3
Nancy 3
Selina 3

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Saul surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 112
John 96
Thomas 59
George 42
James 41
Joseph 36
Robert 26
Charles 25
Henry 20
Edward 17
Arthur 13
Richard 10
Alfred 9
Daniel 9
David 9
Harry 9
Samuel 8
Walter 8
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Albert 6
Peter 5
Tom 5
Christopher 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Fredrick 4
Michael 4
Edmund 3
Fredk. 3
Jacob 3
Jonathan 3
Percy 3
Chas. 2
Edwd. 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Horace 2
Miles 2
Nathaniel 2
Nicholas 2
Norman 2
Silas 2
Simondson 2
Stephen 2
Wilfred 2
Wm. 2
Cuthbert 1
Emanuel 1
Emil 1

FAQ

Saul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Saul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,530 people were recorded with the Saul surname. That placed it at #2,743 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Saul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,667 in 2016. That gives Saul a modern rank of #3,743.

What does the Saul surname mean?

Derived from the Hebrew name Sha'ul, meaning "asked for" or "prayed for."

What does the Saul map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Saul bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.